Draft gear



Nov. 3, 1931.

R. R. MAUK ET AL DRAFT' GEAR Filed Jan. 28. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l m m wmm M Ed@ V W mw@ A M.

Nov. 3, 1931. R. R.` MAUK ET AL 1,830,706

DRAFT GEAR Filed Jan. 28, 1929 2 SheetS-Sheei 2 Patented Nov. 3, 1931uNrrsD'sTATss lmrlfslsn oFFicf ROBERTv R. MAUR AND HARVEY L. IiAnrnRsoN,or GRAND marins, MICHIGAN DRAFTY GEAR Application ledlanuary 28, 1929.Serial 1\T0.`335,47=13. Y

This invention relates to a pneumatic cushioning unit for a draft gearof a railway car. The main objects of this invention are to provide animproved cushioning unit which can be readily assembled into the presentstandard construction of draft Vgear and yoke; and to provide acushioning 'unit of the pneumatic type which has independent front v andrear compression'cylinders which are 1C preferably connected'to thetrain air 'line.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:` I Y y Fig.' `1 isa view partly inelevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section of a draft gearand yoke mechanism showing the improved cushioning unit in positiontherein. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view partly in sectionof the same. IJ Heretofore pneumatic cushioning units have ordinarilybeen constructed by using a pair of telescoping cylinders and whentelescoped together under pressure, for instance when the draft gear isunder tension, the

' front end of the lunit will be engaged against.

the sill abutments and if the train is brought to a sudden stop theentire unit slides rear-V wardly causing the rear end of the unit tostrike with great forceV against the rear sill V53:) abutments.

In the present construction, a cylinder 'block is retained in fixedposition medially with respect to the draft yoke when in its normalposition. The opposite ends of the v 55 cylinder block have cylindersformed therein which receive pistons-against which the yoke bearsthrough the medium of suitable follower heads on the pistons. When thepistons are slid into their respective cylinders '9 by pressure in onedirection, the pistons at the other end of the cylinder block are at theposition of their outward limit of movement. When tension is removedfrom the yoke, as soon as the yoke returns to its normal position 7 itwill engage against the opposite set of pistons and will receive agradually increasing `cushioning effect as the rearward movement of theyoke continues.

In the construction shown in the draw` ings, the customarylongitudinally extending car sills 1 and 2 areprov'ided with a pair ofreariiXed sill abutments 4 and 5 suitably riveted or bolted thereto anda pair of front fixed sill abutments 6 and 7- which are likewise boltedor riveted to said sills'.v A yoke 8 of standard construction is mountedbetween the sills 1 and 2 in the usual manner anda draw'bar 9 securedthereto by a flat key l0,

`although it is to be understood that our improved Cushioning unit canbe used with any standard type of yoke and draw bar and is not limitedvto use in connection with :the exact construction shown. i

" The if provedcushioning unit comprises a cylinder block 11 ofelongated rectangular fornil adapted to be embraced by the yoke 8.' Theblock-1l may be of cast'steel or the like Vvand the oppositeendsthereof'are provided with a plurality ofl cylinder bores'12, 13, 14" and15. n In the present construction, one pair of bores 12 and 13 areformed in the front end ofthe block'll in parallel relationship to eachother and asecond pair of cylinders 14 and 15 likewise in spacedzparallel relation are formed inl the rear end ofthe block. VThecylinders '12 and 14 are y in axial alignment with each other andcylinders k13'and15 are also in axial alignment with each other.' Theinner ends of the 'cylinders 12 and 13'terminate in-fspaced relationtotheinner ends of` the cylinders 14 and 15 as shown Vparticularly inFig. 2. A port 16 provides communication betweenthe inner ends of thecylinders .12 and 13 and a similar port '17 performs the v same functionfor the cylinders Hand 1 5. The sidev of the cylinder block l1 issuitably drilled to provide openings or ports 18 and 19 intok which arethreaded independent pneumatic connections V2() and 21 respectively*`which in turn communicate withthe train air line 22. rSuitable backVcheckvalves 23 Y y and 24 are provided for the pipes 420 and 21respectively `so "thatr each ypair ofl VcylindersV has independentcommunication with the train air line 22. v g

The cylinder block `-1l is held. in spaced rrelation-medially `of thenormal position of theyoke 8-by spacer blocks 25, 26,127 and 28 whichengage theends of the cylinder .block at the sides thereof and the fixedsill abutments 4, 5, 6 and 7.

The cylinders 12 and 13 are provided with pistons 29 and 30respectively,.axially slidable therein and preferably arranged to have atravel of approximately three inches. The outer ends of the pistons 29and 30 are connected to a follower head 31 which is longitudinallyslidable between the spacerA blocks 25 and 27 and which at its outwardlimit of movement abuts against the fixed sill abutments 6 and 7. Y

The cylinders 14 and 15 are provided with pistons 32 and 33respectively, axially slidable therein in the same manner and with thesame space for movement as the pistons 29'and 30. The outer ends of thepistons 32 and 33 a-re rigidly connected to a follower head 34 whichy islongitudinally slidable between the spacer blocks 26- and 231 and whichat its outer limit of movement abutsfaga-inst the lixed sillabutments 4and V5.

In the operation of this' cushioning unit,

when there Ais af pull on the draft bar 9- and yoke 3 the rear'endl ofthe yoke engages the follower head 34 and carries the pistons 32 and 33inwardly against the air pressure in the cylinders 14 andv 15A which airpressure issuppliedy throughy the ports 17, 19,. pipe 21, check valve 24from-.the train air line 22. lf the `train is brought to a sudden stopthe pisends thereof, pistons in said cylinders, follower heads on saidpistons embraced by said yoke and arranged to engage said sill abutmentsand pneumatic connections to said cylinders.

2. In a draft gear the combination, with front and rear pairs of fixedsill abutments and 'yoke which ridesl therebetween, of a cushioning unitcomprising a cylinder block embraced by said yoke, spacer blocks at thesides of the` opposite ends ofvv saidl cylinder block engaging said sillabutments and said cylinder block for retaining said cylinder blockagainst longitudinal movement, the opposite ends of said cylinder blockbeing provided with aplurality of. cylinder bores, pistons` for saidcylinders, vfollower' headsV at the respective ends of saidf cylinderblock connected to the adjacent pistons, saidv follower heads havinglongitudinal sliding movement between said spacer blocks and beingadapted to enga-ge s'aidsill-` abutments to liinittheir outward traveland pneumatic connections. tol all of saidy cylinders.

In testimony whereof we havehereunto set our hands at Grand Rapids,Michigan, this 24th day` of January, 1929.

ROBERT R. MAUIQ HARVEYL. PATTERSON.

tons32 and' 33 and the follower head' 34 rey Y A turnfirst to theirnormal position against the y sillabutments 4 and and then the frontendof the yoke 8 engages the follower Vhead 31 and carries the vpistons 29and 30 .into the cylinders'12 and 13 against the 'air pressure thereinwhich air pressure has been supplied through the ports 16 and 18, pipe20 and check valve 23 from the train airline "22. v

With this arrangement whenA one set' of cylinders is under pressure byreasoni of push or pull on the yoke 8, the opposite pair of cylinders isbeing supplied-with air from the train line, eachpair ofcylinders'rbeing' independently connected to the train air line withindependent check valves. In this way the cylinders havethe maximum airpressure therein at all times.

Although but one specific embodiment of Y this inventionhas been hereinshown and described, it will be understood-.that numerous details. ofthe Vconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing fromthe spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim: 1. In a draftgear the combination, with front and rear pairsof fixedt sillv abutments Y and yoke which rides therebetween, of`acushioning unit comprising faf cylinder block adapted to be embraced bysaidwyoke andy re- Y tainedv against longitudinal movement by said sillabutments, saidfcylinder block havv ing independent cylinders `in thelopposite l

